Chief Pharmacist

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

The post holder is the professional head of service, holding corporate accountability for compliance with legislative, professional, and ethical requirements including clinical governance for all aspects relating to medication use.

Responsible for strategic planning, policy and the safe and effective delivery of patient focussed Pharmacy Services. Responsible for human and financial resources available within the Department.

Provides expert pharmaceutical advice to clinicians, consultants and senior managers of the Trust.

Has Trust responsibility for the planning and delivery of the Medicines Management Strategy and associated assurance systems. Engages on work with partnership organisations on the development of the joint Medicines Management agenda.

Responsible for innovation / research to underpin the development of pharmacy and medicines management services throughout the Trust.

Assessment Centre: 30th August 2023

Main duties of the job

Provide strategic leadership in medicines management within the Trust and across the health economy.
Be responsible for the professional leadership, management, and development of the pharmaceutical services.
Provide expert advice to the Board and other senior officers on all medicines management and optimisation issues.
Hold statutory and ethical responsibility for ensuring safe systems are in operation for the ordering, prescription, dispensing, storage, and administration of medicines.
Provide specialist expertise; and delegated from the Medical Director / Chief Executive, have corporate responsibility, including those required bodies such as NICE, GPhC, RPSGB and other performance management arrangements.
Be accountable for the procurement of medicines and the provision of the Pharmacy pay and non-pay budget.
Be accountable for clinical governance including risk management issues.
Co-ordinate and implement research, development and audit activity in medicines management and pharmacy service delivery to support service developments.
Be the named responsible officer, under the Medicines Act.
Provide leadership for the safety, effectiveness and development of the electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system, fulfilling the role of the Information Asset Owner for ePMA.
Promote the cost-effective use of medicines and control of drug expenditure.
Be accountable for the delivery of pharmacy services in accordance with an agreed annual business plan.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
SAFETY that is of the highest standards
COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Date posted

13 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 9

Salary

£99,891 to £114,949 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

409-S5443603

Job locations

Whiston Hospital

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Head of Pharmacy undertakes the following duties:

Strategic and service planning of the pharmaceutical services of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, interpreting professional and NHS policy and guidance to deliver service re-design and development
To hold corporate responsibility for the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on all policy matters relating to Pharmaceutical Services and Medicines Management, including statutory requirements
Develops and manages strategic development of pharmacy and medicines management services and engages with primary care on the development of joint services
The post holder is the professional head of service and undertakes the roles and responsibilities of the Superintendent Pharmacist as required by the Medicines Act and as described in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) Code of Ethics
To control the risk of medication error by ensuring safe systems are in place for the prescription, dispensing and administration of medicines and for the investigation of medicines errors including necessary remedial action
The post holder is the holder of all licences with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency (MHRA).
The post holder is accountable for the safe use of ionising radiation in the department under Local Rules (Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999)
The post holder is responsible for clinical and corporate governance for the Pharmacy Department
To ensure provision and interpretation and development of relevant information on medicines use and expenditure to the Trust, Executive Team, and Clinical Directorates
Responsible for ensuring that audits of all aspects of the pharmacy service are undertaken
Responsible for ensuring the co-ordination and implementation of research and development activity in the Pharmacy and for medicines management
Is accountable for ensuring the pharmaceutical aspects of all clinical trials using medicines are fully compliant with legislation and good practice
To lead Pharmacy professional development and attainment of registration requirements by stimulation, promotion and implementation of Continuing Professional Development and post-graduate qualification
Managerially accountable for the pharmacy staff budget and non-staff budget
The Head of Pharmacy is the Trusts pharmaceutical representative, point of contact for external organisations and provider of complex and highly specialised pharmaceutical and managerial advice for the Trust
To demonstrate high level of clinical effectiveness within the service by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures and ensuring that these are embedded in the practice of all clinicians in the service area
To be an authorising signatory on Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions
To be the named pharmacist with respect to the pharmaceutical services provided to support clinical trials of new drugs
To develop, maintain and deliver a strategic vision for pharmacy services that is shared and owned by the pharmacy staff and which has been consulted on within the Trust and with other stakeholders
To develop and maintain good collaborative relationships with senior staff, Executive Directors and General Managers in the Trust to ensure seamless pharmaceutical care and engage with the local health economy on joint working
To interpret and advise the Directorates and other relevant senior Trust staff of the impact of the strategic plans of other services on the pharmacy service or medicines management agenda
To contribute to the development of policy and the strategic planning for the medicines management within the Trust
To interpret professional and government policies and advise the Trust on any pharmacy and medicines management matters that arise. The pharmacy strategy and relevant section(s) of the Trusts strategic plan may require amending as a consequence of this advice.
To comment on behalf of the Trust, on consultation papers issued by government bodies on matters pertaining to pharmacy services and/or medicines management
To contribute to the development and review of the Trusts strategic plan
To represent Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust within strategic pharmaceutical and medicines management networks of the NW region
To plan, prepare and lead the pharmacy and medicines management response to the declaration of a Major Incident
Is accountable for the analysis and monitoring of drug use and expenditure and the provision of pharmaceutical advice at Trust, directorate and consultant level, thereby enabling informed decisions to be taken on the clinical and cost-effective use of medicines
To ensure that the pharmacy service formulates appropriate products as necessary, maintains accurate documentation and observes the legal requirements for clinical trials
To ensure effective communication arrangements are maintained with all pharmacy and directorate staff, especially in planning and delivery of service changes as a result of Trust strategies
To identify, evaluate and implement innovative service developments in support of the modernisation agenda
To work with Executives, Directorates, consultants and specialist pharmacists and other key stakeholders to address issues related to pharmacy service provision on the wider medicines management issues
Is accountable for the management of the response to the Hazard Warning system for pharmaceuticals, Urgent Pharmaceutical Drug Information Alerts
Accountable for effective security arrangements for the building contents and staff within the Pharmacy
To identify, prepare or contribute to business cases for developments involving pharmacy services or Medicines Management
To develop and agree the annual Operational Plan for pharmacy services and Medicines Management in accordance with Trust guidelines
To communicate the priorities within the annual operational plan to staff and ensure that actions for these are reflected and monitored within the performance management process.
To monitor the delivery of the annual operational plan within an agreed performance management framework
To ensure that any pharmacy implications arising from business plans in other services are identified
To be responsible for training and development of pharmacy staff and other professions in all aspects of medicines management
To ensure that all Pharmacy staff are managed and developed within the NHS Human Resources Strategy including Improving Working Lives, Investors in People, and Equal Opportunities
To be accountable for Governance arrangements in Pharmacy including service quality, audit, risk management, controls assurance, intervention monitoring, research and development and compliance with policies, procedures and protocols
To represent Medicines Management within Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust structures for research and development, stimulating and sponsoring research proposals
To be responsible for the strategic development of Information Technology related to prescribing, administration, procurement and supply of medicines
To be responsible for the provision of Pharmaceutical and Medicines Management Services, advising Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on requirements for staffing and other resources, including IT and automation, for these services
To maintain and develop systems for the safe delivery of pharmaceutical care, to the quality standards of all relevant professions in accordance with recognised and statutory requirements
To be a key member of the Joint Medicines Management Committee
To performance manage pharmacy staff as appropriate. To undertake regular appraisals of senior pharmacy staff. To undertake disciplinary action as necessary.
To be the responsible person under the Medicines Act for Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Specials Production Licence
To be responsible for the investigation of complaints, provision of suitable responses and the implementation of necessary remedial action

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Head of Pharmacy undertakes the following duties:

Strategic and service planning of the pharmaceutical services of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, interpreting professional and NHS policy and guidance to deliver service re-design and development
To hold corporate responsibility for the Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on all policy matters relating to Pharmaceutical Services and Medicines Management, including statutory requirements
Develops and manages strategic development of pharmacy and medicines management services and engages with primary care on the development of joint services
The post holder is the professional head of service and undertakes the roles and responsibilities of the Superintendent Pharmacist as required by the Medicines Act and as described in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) Code of Ethics
To control the risk of medication error by ensuring safe systems are in place for the prescription, dispensing and administration of medicines and for the investigation of medicines errors including necessary remedial action
The post holder is the holder of all licences with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulation Agency (MHRA).
The post holder is accountable for the safe use of ionising radiation in the department under Local Rules (Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999)
The post holder is responsible for clinical and corporate governance for the Pharmacy Department
To ensure provision and interpretation and development of relevant information on medicines use and expenditure to the Trust, Executive Team, and Clinical Directorates
Responsible for ensuring that audits of all aspects of the pharmacy service are undertaken
Responsible for ensuring the co-ordination and implementation of research and development activity in the Pharmacy and for medicines management
Is accountable for ensuring the pharmaceutical aspects of all clinical trials using medicines are fully compliant with legislation and good practice
To lead Pharmacy professional development and attainment of registration requirements by stimulation, promotion and implementation of Continuing Professional Development and post-graduate qualification
Managerially accountable for the pharmacy staff budget and non-staff budget
The Head of Pharmacy is the Trusts pharmaceutical representative, point of contact for external organisations and provider of complex and highly specialised pharmaceutical and managerial advice for the Trust
To demonstrate high level of clinical effectiveness within the service by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures and ensuring that these are embedded in the practice of all clinicians in the service area
To be an authorising signatory on Patient Group Directions and Patient Specific Directions
To be the named pharmacist with respect to the pharmaceutical services provided to support clinical trials of new drugs
To develop, maintain and deliver a strategic vision for pharmacy services that is shared and owned by the pharmacy staff and which has been consulted on within the Trust and with other stakeholders
To develop and maintain good collaborative relationships with senior staff, Executive Directors and General Managers in the Trust to ensure seamless pharmaceutical care and engage with the local health economy on joint working
To interpret and advise the Directorates and other relevant senior Trust staff of the impact of the strategic plans of other services on the pharmacy service or medicines management agenda
To contribute to the development of policy and the strategic planning for the medicines management within the Trust
To interpret professional and government policies and advise the Trust on any pharmacy and medicines management matters that arise. The pharmacy strategy and relevant section(s) of the Trusts strategic plan may require amending as a consequence of this advice.
To comment on behalf of the Trust, on consultation papers issued by government bodies on matters pertaining to pharmacy services and/or medicines management
To contribute to the development and review of the Trusts strategic plan
To represent Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust within strategic pharmaceutical and medicines management networks of the NW region
To plan, prepare and lead the pharmacy and medicines management response to the declaration of a Major Incident
Is accountable for the analysis and monitoring of drug use and expenditure and the provision of pharmaceutical advice at Trust, directorate and consultant level, thereby enabling informed decisions to be taken on the clinical and cost-effective use of medicines
To ensure that the pharmacy service formulates appropriate products as necessary, maintains accurate documentation and observes the legal requirements for clinical trials
To ensure effective communication arrangements are maintained with all pharmacy and directorate staff, especially in planning and delivery of service changes as a result of Trust strategies
To identify, evaluate and implement innovative service developments in support of the modernisation agenda
To work with Executives, Directorates, consultants and specialist pharmacists and other key stakeholders to address issues related to pharmacy service provision on the wider medicines management issues
Is accountable for the management of the response to the Hazard Warning system for pharmaceuticals, Urgent Pharmaceutical Drug Information Alerts
Accountable for effective security arrangements for the building contents and staff within the Pharmacy
To identify, prepare or contribute to business cases for developments involving pharmacy services or Medicines Management
To develop and agree the annual Operational Plan for pharmacy services and Medicines Management in accordance with Trust guidelines
To communicate the priorities within the annual operational plan to staff and ensure that actions for these are reflected and monitored within the performance management process.
To monitor the delivery of the annual operational plan within an agreed performance management framework
To ensure that any pharmacy implications arising from business plans in other services are identified
To be responsible for training and development of pharmacy staff and other professions in all aspects of medicines management
To ensure that all Pharmacy staff are managed and developed within the NHS Human Resources Strategy including Improving Working Lives, Investors in People, and Equal Opportunities
To be accountable for Governance arrangements in Pharmacy including service quality, audit, risk management, controls assurance, intervention monitoring, research and development and compliance with policies, procedures and protocols
To represent Medicines Management within Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust structures for research and development, stimulating and sponsoring research proposals
To be responsible for the strategic development of Information Technology related to prescribing, administration, procurement and supply of medicines
To be responsible for the provision of Pharmaceutical and Medicines Management Services, advising Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust on requirements for staffing and other resources, including IT and automation, for these services
To maintain and develop systems for the safe delivery of pharmaceutical care, to the quality standards of all relevant professions in accordance with recognised and statutory requirements
To be a key member of the Joint Medicines Management Committee
To performance manage pharmacy staff as appropriate. To undertake regular appraisals of senior pharmacy staff. To undertake disciplinary action as necessary.
To be the responsible person under the Medicines Act for Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Specials Production Licence
To be responsible for the investigation of complaints, provision of suitable responses and the implementation of necessary remedial action

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
Pre-Registration training and experience
Registered with (or expecting to register) with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Evidence of ongoing professional development
Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice (or equivalent experience)
Management/leadership qualification relevant to the NHS (or equivalent experience)

Desirable

Membership or Fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Clinical pharmacy experience
Significant post registration experience within the hospital pharmacy environment
Significant and recent experience in a leadership role at a senior level within hospital pharmacy
Detailed knowledge and experience of the operation of primary and secondary care NHS organisations
Management of risk with respect to the clinical use of medicines
Proven track record in managing staff and maintaining good relationships with clinicians, finance, and general management
Law relating to storage, possession and prescribing of medicines
Business planning with project and financial management
Understanding of financial controls and constraints including standing orders, standing financial instructions and capital and corporate planning procedures including the delivery of cost improvement programmes
Comprehensive knowledge and practical understanding of financial and commissioning frameworks
Specialist knowledge and experience with management and response to Medicines Guidance Notes, MHRA alerts, Care Quality Commission inspections, NHS Improvement, Internal and external auditing, serious incident investigation and management of untoward events
Sound knowledge of GMP, GDP, and clinical trials directives
Demonstrate an understanding of current pharmacy / NHS issues
Research active with the desire to promote the reputation of the department

Skills, Abilities and Personal Qualities

Essential

Good computer and communication skills, both verbal and written
Good time management skills and ability to achieve demanding tasks and objectives against deadlines
Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting
Self-motivated
Ability to prioritise
Positive, optimistic and enthusiastic
Awareness of limitations
Ability to lead, inspire, innovate and performance manage service change and staff in a complex organisation
Evidence of successful operational management in a senior position
Strong inclusive leadership style
Professional image and positive approach to problem solving showing tolerance, understanding, tact and diplomacy
Collaborative style with the desire to support system change for the benefit of our patients
Able to make effective prompt decisions when faced with variable often highly complex information and situations
Ability to achieve demanding tasks and objectives against deadlines
Negotiation skills to support the management of change and resolve conflict
Proven ability to manage resources effectively

Desirable

Ability to see the potential of information technology
Advanced keyboard skills ECDL or equivalent experiential learning
Computer literate in Microsoft Office or similar software packages
Involvement in regional or national agenda

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Vocational Masters Degree in Pharmacy
Pre-Registration training and experience
Registered with (or expecting to register) with the General Pharmaceutical Council
Evidence of ongoing professional development
Post-graduate qualification relevant to hospital pharmacy practice (or equivalent experience)
Management/leadership qualification relevant to the NHS (or equivalent experience)

Desirable

Membership or Fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Clinical pharmacy experience
Significant post registration experience within the hospital pharmacy environment
Significant and recent experience in a leadership role at a senior level within hospital pharmacy
Detailed knowledge and experience of the operation of primary and secondary care NHS organisations
Management of risk with respect to the clinical use of medicines
Proven track record in managing staff and maintaining good relationships with clinicians, finance, and general management
Law relating to storage, possession and prescribing of medicines
Business planning with project and financial management
Understanding of financial controls and constraints including standing orders, standing financial instructions and capital and corporate planning procedures including the delivery of cost improvement programmes
Comprehensive knowledge and practical understanding of financial and commissioning frameworks
Specialist knowledge and experience with management and response to Medicines Guidance Notes, MHRA alerts, Care Quality Commission inspections, NHS Improvement, Internal and external auditing, serious incident investigation and management of untoward events
Sound knowledge of GMP, GDP, and clinical trials directives
Demonstrate an understanding of current pharmacy / NHS issues
Research active with the desire to promote the reputation of the department

Skills, Abilities and Personal Qualities

Essential

Good computer and communication skills, both verbal and written
Good time management skills and ability to achieve demanding tasks and objectives against deadlines
Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting
Self-motivated
Ability to prioritise
Positive, optimistic and enthusiastic
Awareness of limitations
Ability to lead, inspire, innovate and performance manage service change and staff in a complex organisation
Evidence of successful operational management in a senior position
Strong inclusive leadership style
Professional image and positive approach to problem solving showing tolerance, understanding, tact and diplomacy
Collaborative style with the desire to support system change for the benefit of our patients
Able to make effective prompt decisions when faced with variable often highly complex information and situations
Ability to achieve demanding tasks and objectives against deadlines
Negotiation skills to support the management of change and resolve conflict
Proven ability to manage resources effectively

Desirable

Ability to see the potential of information technology
Advanced keyboard skills ECDL or equivalent experiential learning
Computer literate in Microsoft Office or similar software packages
Involvement in regional or national agenda

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).